MILLI COUNCIL’S ANNUAL MEETINGNew Delhi: The eighth annual conference of All India Milli Council will be held in Dehra Doon on May 28-29. Council leaders and prominent personalities from all over India will participate in the meeting. A large public meeting will also be organised on this occasion. The meeting, according to a press release from the central office of the Council, will elect general secretary and treasurer for the next three-year term, review the present situation of the country, besides taking stock of the results of the 14th Lok Sabha elections. The Council will also chalk out its Dawah, educational, social and political plans for future.

According to information of the Uttaranchal State general secretary of the Council, Maulana Muhammad Akbar Qasmi, a meeting of prominent personalities of the state was held in Press Club, Dehra Doon so as to take appropriate measures for smooth conduction of the meeting. Industrialist Dr Syed Farooq was unanimously appointed president of the Reception Committee of the eighth general meeting while Maulana Syed Azim Shah Mazahiri was appointed secretary.

ERADICATION OF SOCIAL EVILS IS THE NEED OF HOURLucknow: The role that can be played by an educated and pious woman in creating religious awareness among Muslim women and in keeping alive religious sense among the new generation is impossible to be played by others. The increase in violence against women and waywardness among Muslim societies can be eradicated only through religious education and upbringing. These views were expressed by Dr Safia Nasim here at Jamiatuz Zohra Lilbanat, Kalyanpur. She also distributed prizes among successful students in different categories.

27730 TAKE AMU MEDICAL EXAMSAligarh: Admission tests for MBBS and BDS courses of Aligarh Muslim university ended peacefully in its 48 centres on May 12. In all, 27730 students from all over India participated for 127 and 27 seats of MBBS and BDS respectively. There were 10 separate examination centres for girls in which 10,239 students participated. It was for the first time in history of the university that such a large number of students took part in the examination. In comparison with last year, there were above 9000 more students this year. This is due to the university’s fair admission management which has won people’s confidence resulting the increased number of students appearing for admission tests.

TABISH AZIMABADI REMEMBEREDKolkata: The library sub-committee, Muslim Institute called a meeting at the library hall to condole the demise of poet Tabish Azimabadi. Participants observed one minute’s token silence. The library chairman, Anjum Azimabadi said Tabish was born in Sabzi Bagh, Patna in 1941 whose family name was Abdul Jaleel. But he is known in the literary world as Tabish Azimabadi. He came to Kolkata in 1958 and remained under the tutelage of Ehsan Darbhangwi, a close disciple of Allama Jamil Mazhari. His association with poet Shamsuzzaman brought him close to Hindi and Bengali poets too. He started his poetry in all three languages i.e. Urdu, Hindi and Bangla, Anjum said. He was known for his services to Urdu. He added that Tabish’s death had caused a loss to this cause. Though he did not author any book, his services to linguistic harmony are unforgettable. In recognition of his services, Dialogue Society had awarded him last year. Hindi poetess Kusum Jain said Tabish’s literary services are spread over 20 years. He was a man possessing unique qualities, Jain said. He tried to bring people together, she said.

Kitish Sharma, editor of Hindi weekly Jan Sansar said despite poverty, Tabish worked relentlessly and he was a man of self-respect. He always fought for the rights. Sharma also announced that some of Tabish’s works would be published in the form of Urdu and Hindi booklet by Jan Sansar. Some girl students of class IX of Tabish’s residential colony would be provided free course books for three years.

SIX BOOKS RELEASED IN ONE FUNCTIONNew Delhi: An award distribution and poetry function was organised by Hamd-o-Na’t Academy, New Delhi under the presidentship of Dr Syed Farooq here at Ghalib Academy on 15 May. Muhammad Shafi Qureshi, former governor of Madhya Pradesh distributed the awards. Maulana Hifzur Rahman award was given to Haji Faiyazuddin for community services. Rafi Ahmad Kidwai award for social services was given to Shamim Ahmad Saifi. Maulana Abdul Wahid Siddiqui award for Islamic publishing was given to Abdul Malik Fahim whereas Hazrat Hassan award for poetry was given to Maulana Abdul Aziz Zafar Janakpuri. Each award included a shield, a shawl and a certificate of honour. Aisha Firdaus and Faaria Firdaus were given first and second prize respectively for their essay on seerat and Rabia Khatoon and Rukhsana received the third prize. Whereas among boys Khateeb and Muhammad Irshad Ali won first and second prize respectively. Four books of litterateur Abrar Kiratpuri, a poetic collection of Abdul Aziz Yas Chandpuri and a booklet of the Academy were released at the function.

JUSTICE SYED MAHMUD REMEMBEREDAllahabad: Son of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, the founder of Aligarh Muslim University, Justice Syed Mahmud is probably the first Muslim judge of Allahabad High Court whom the city-dwellers still remember. Paying rich tributes to Justice Mahmud on his anniversary on 12 May, advocates said that Syed Mahmud delivered several landmark judgements which not only held the judiciary high but also elevated his personality. Justice Mahmud became a district judge in 1869 and in 1887 he became a judge in the Allahabad High Court. He was probably the first Muslim judge of the court. He was equally popular among all strata of society due to his intelligence and mastery over laws. His judgements, it is said, were so flawless and powerful, covering all legal aspects that hardly anyone could challenge them. It is long that he died, but he is still the model not only for Allahabad High Court, but for the entire judiciary also. His judgements are cited as examples. The Allahabad Bar Association still looks at him with great respect.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF SHAHRAYAR’S POETRYNew Delhi: Shahrayar’s poetry is a valuable asset of present age. He had given a new direction to Urdu poetry and literature. These views were expressed by noted Hindi litterateur Kamleshwar at a function organised at the Department of English and European Languages of Jamia Millia Islamia to release “Through the closed door way”, an English translation of 100 selected poems of the noted poet Shahrayar. A poet like Shahrayar cannot be confined to any limits, Kamleshwar said. His poetry equally narrates the dark and bright aspects of the time, he said. These poems have been translated into English by Rakhshanda Jaleel, Visiting Fellow of Third World Academy, JMI.
Speaking on this occasion, Shahid Mehdi, Vice Chancellor of Jamia said Shahrayar is very selective of words in his poetry, therefore, there is no complication in what he says and means. Prof. Anisur Rahman presented an article and said translation is a difficult job but this is a medium to popularise the art far and wide. Translation of the works of an artist like Shahrayar is the need of the hour, he said. Both the author and the translator read out some selected Urdu and English poems on this occasion.

GOLDEN NAME-PLATE OF DARGAH STOLENAjmer: The golden name-plate at the Jannati Darwaza (Paradise Door) of Dargah Moinuddin Chishti at Ajmer has been stolen. Visitors keep coming in and going out of the Dargah complex the whole day. Missing of the name-plate in such a situation is a cause of worry for the Dargah Committee, appointed to supervise it. The committee registered a complaint with the Dargah police station stating that the golden plate was stolen sometime on Wednesday, 5 May. Bangladesh-born US citizen Z A Sikandar had fixed the name-plate for golden designing of the door. The police have been investigating the matter but there has been no arrest so far.

MASS MEDIA INTRODUCED IN CHARAN SINGH UNIV.Meerut: The Urdu department of Chaudhary Charan Singh University has done commendable job in the last two years. Since its establishment, the department has tried to link Urdu with employment and introduced courses which could enable Urdu students to get jobs and instill confidence in them.
Head of the Department, Dr Aslam Jamshedpuri said that the name of MA professional Urdu which has been changed into MA Mass Media Urdu has been training students in Urdu journalism, translation, electronic media, news reading, anchoring, script writing, aids, drama, etc.
In a recent meeting attended by some prominent Urdu journalists, certain changes were brought about into the syllabus. Urdu dailies like Rashtriya Sahara, Qaumi Awaz, Inquilab, Siyasat, Azad Hind; weeklies like Aalami Sahara, Nai Dunya, Akhbar-e-Nau; monthlies like Jamia, Shabkhoon, Afkar-e-Milli and Hindi dailies Dainik Jagran, Jan Satta, etc have been introduced in the course content. Shamim Hanafi, Zahida Zaidi, Habib Tanvir and others have been included in drama papers. Internet and graphic designing have been included in the information technology paper.

REWRITE AGRA’S LITERARY HISTORY
Agra: Bazme “Sukhan Numa”, an Agra-based literary organisation has decided to work out a collective programme of all Urdu organisations for promotion of Urdu language. During a meeting held recently, the participants laid stress on rewriting the literary history of the city of Taj. Kalam Ahmad, a participant asserted that reports of literary and academic activities of Agra should be sent to Urdu newspapers and magazines and to news bulletin of Urdu academies so that people from outside Agra know about academic activities of the city. Ahmad Jalisari suggested to set up a short time library. Suggestion was also put forward to convene regular monthly meetings of the
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